Stay in the loop

Rob Ford took most afternoons off from his city hall duties during the early part of the football season between Sept. 1 and Oct. 26, according to documents seen by The Star. The piece notes "private" appointments scheduled for 3:30, roughly the same time as the Don Bosco Eagles practice. Is this further proof that Rob Ford's a part time mayor or just evidence he doesn't keep detailed itineraries?

The TTC signed two important agreements yesterday; one confirms four new LRT lines for Toronto by 2020, the other sets a 2015 deadline for system-wide Presto card facilities. By the time the decade is out, Torontonians should (barring any unforeseen circumstances) have four new rapid transit lines and the option of paying with contactless card or cash.

Imagine unearthing one of the most astounding archaeological finds in Toronto's history and then just pouring concrete over it. Well, according to Adam Bunch at Spacing, that's exactly what happened in 1908 when workers installing a pipe off Hanlan's Point found 11,000 year old human footprints in the clay. The astonishing story surely has to be the first example of the city's careless management of its historical features.

I guess Edmonton didn't take too kindly to our council suggesting the Alberta city move their elephant south to a warmer climate. Stephen Mandel, the mayor, said it was none of Toronto's business what it does with its zoo animals, and was "noticeably irate."

U of T researchers have scored $2.2 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a fund that provides cash to healthcare and poverty reduction projects, to produce a waterless toilet for use in the developing world. The team is working with sand filters and UV-ray sanitation.

Just a heads up - the Bloor-Danforth line will be closed this weekend (all day Saturday and Sunday) between Keele and Kipling for track replacement work at Jane station. Shuttle busses will replace trains between the stations. Normal service resumes Monday at 6 am.